Building-block.



n vas sz. I PATENTED, APR. 4, 1905. -0. J. W. HAYES,

BUILDING BLOCK. I

APPLICATION TILED OUT 17 1904 UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905. Y

' PATENT OFFICE.

vCHARLES J. W. HAYES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGN OR TO CHARLES W. .CADWELL, TRUSTEE, OF WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,762, datedApriI 4, 1905.

application filed October 1'7. 1904; Serial No. 228,717.

To all whom, it may concern.-

to the accompanying drawings, which form a p part of this specification.

quired, by reason of the truss features whichits form effects, and which shall give to a wall desirable ventilating and damp-resisting qualities.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective showing a number of blocks in position to form a wall. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the wall as at w y in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the'ribbed or trussed side of a block. Fig. dis aperspective of a half-block.

The block which is the subject of this invention has a tabular or face part T, one side of which may be made with a smooth or any desired face. The opposite side is made with a thick rib M, extending across it midway of its length, and four thin ribs R, radiating, preferably, from about the middle of the thick rib to the extreme corners of the tabular part. The thick or mid rib M has flat ends even with the edges of the tabular partT and across these ends bonding-grooves Gr, so located as to register with those of contiguous blocks when in a wall. The width of mid-rib M (or its length fromtabular part T outward) is uniform-and is dependent upon the thickness it is desired tohave the wall of which it is to form a part. The radiating ribs R are tapering in width from the same as that of the mid-rib, where they join it, down to a width making them somewhat above the inner surface of the tabular part T at the corners, where the edges of the ribs are flattenedand made parallel with the tabular part T to form seats S and shoulders L. The length of these seats from the ends of the ribs to the shoulders should be approximately one-half the thickness of mid-rib M,'so that when laid in a wall the seats and shoulders form a means for locating and holding the blocks in proper position.

Other proportions of this block may vary through a considerable range, dependent upon the strength requireoL. architects plans, &c.; but in this form of block the tabular or face part may for equal strength be much thinner than in other blocks, because of the strengthening truss effect which the radiating ribs give to it. p

All the ribs should join the tabular part with large fillets to minimize the danger of cracking and to facilitate removal from the mold. v

The wall constructed of these blocks should be laid double, the ribbed sides of the blocks turnedinward and seated against each otherin broken-joint order to form courses, and the courses arranged to break joints also in the usual way.

It willybe seen. that in a wall of these blocks so laid there is an open space 0 between the mid-rib of the blocks and the opposing blocks seated against it, which permits free circulation ofair laterally in the wall. Air may circulate vertically past the radiatingribs, which cross each other in opposing blocks.

When it is desired to form flues, the spaces 0 occurring in conjunction with two vertical rows-of mid-ribs are closed, shutting off the lateral communication of air at these points.

The surfaces of contact between the two sides of a wall made of these blocks are nor-' ating ribs on the inside of this wall form aseries of double overlapping arches or truss members which serve to distribute strain, thus making this wall safer for heavy or unevenly-distributed loads than would otherwise be possible with the same amount of material.

For corners, window-openings, &c., half or part blocks (shown in Fig. 4) may be used, and this application is intended to cover such form, as well as other modifications which do not depart from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim is 1. A buildingblock constructed with a transverse rib and With ribs radiating from the central portion thereof to the ends of the block, substantially as described.

2. As anew article of commerce, abuildingblock having a tabular part and a transverse middle rib, and ribs radiating to the ends of the block from the central portion of such transverse middle rib, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of commerce, a buildingblock having a tabular part and on one face of said tabular part ribs radiating from the center thereof, substantially as described.

4. In a new article of commerce, a buildingblock having a transverse rib with bondingl grooves therein, and ribs radiating from the middle of said transverse rib to the corners of the block, substantially as described.

5. As a new article of commerce, a buildingblock having a transverse rib with bondinggrooves therein, and ribs radiating from the middle of' said transverse rib to the corners of the block said ribs diminishing in width from their junction with the mid-rib toward their ends, substantially as described.

6. A wall construction, having in combination blocks, each of which is provided with a tabular part and with ribs on the back thereof radiating from the central part thereof toward the corners, substantially as described.

7. As a new article of commerce, a buildingblock having a tabular part and diagonallydisposed truss members on one face thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specilication in the presence of two witnesses.

- CHARLES J. \V. HAYES. Witnesses:

CHARLES F. BURTON, MAY E. Ko'r'r. 

